Folding apparatus



Oct. 6, 1936. w. F. MAYER FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1934 '2 Sheets-Sheet l Y INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1936. w F YER 2,056,903

FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 2422 MWQTW IW ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1936 Waldemar F. Mayer, Rutherford, N. J.

' Application September 12, 1934, Serial No..743,632

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding devices, and is particularly directed to apparatus for folding and stacking laundered and ironed pieces such as towels, pillow cases, napkins,

. and other fiat pieces.

Where large quantities of such articles are handled as by large linen supply houses, hotels, hospitals, institutions, railroad and steamer laundries, it has been found economical to fold such articles or .pieces remote from the fiat-work ironerand the present invention provides a machine which may be placed readily in any position relatively to the ironer.

One object of my invention is to providea device of this character wherein all the folding operations are automatic.

. Another object of the invention resides inth provision, of means for, selecting the stack and directing or guiding the pieces to the desired stack.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device wherein a plurality of types of folds may be made in any piece fedjto the machine, the type of fold being controlled bythe manner in which the operator feeds the piece to the machine.

Other objects of my invention will be manifest from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of forming three types of folds;

. Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the principle of operation; 7

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device:

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the selecting mechanism and wiring diagram therefor;

I Fig.6 is a section on the line 9-6 'of Fig; 8; Fig. 7 is a view of some of the-mechanism of Fig; 6 showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 8 is a view substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is an elevational'view of the drive for the cross folding mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I designates a stack of laundered pieces, which are to be folded, carried on a truck 2 provided with rollers or wheels 3 whereby the truck can be readily moved to position under the folding mechanism which is supported on a frame 4 as shown in Fig. 3.

Theframe 4 has upwardly extending projections or arms 5 and 6 which serve as journals or bearings for shafts I and 8 of the parallel fold rolls 9 and I0 respectively. An arm ll rigidly secured to the frame 4 of the machine extends over the rolls 9 and I0 and carries a short sleeve l3 at its outer end. A finger bar I4 is rotatably mounted within this sleeve and carries a plurality of gripping fingers I5, each of which in turn 5. carries a spring clip I6 adjustable along the finger to anydesired position, the purpose of which will be described presently. Above and. to the rear of the parallel-fold rolls 9 and. I0 cross-fold rolls l1 and I8 are provided, the same being mounted 10 for rotation on shafts 21 and 28 respectively havingbearings in the frame of the machine. The axes of rotation of these cross-fold rolls I1 and.

I 8 is at right angles to the axes of rotation of the parallel-fold rolls ,9 and Ill. 15'

The parallel-fold rolls 9 and I0 and the crossfold. rolls I1 and I8 are each provided with a. covering of friction material such as soft rubber which may be vulcanized .thereon or secured thereto in any suitable manner. The covering on 20 the parallel-fold rolls 9 and I0 is spaced asshown at 20. A

Belowthe cross-fold rolls I1 and I8 there is provided a series of rods or. fingers 2| secured to the frame of they machine, these, fingers or rods extending into the spaces 20. above referred to between the coverings of the parallel-fold rolls 9 and It] as will be seen from Figs. 4 and 8. A vertically reciprocating cross-fold blade 22 is provided centrally ,of the machine and is 10- 30 cated below and in line with the point of contact of the cross-fold rolls I1 and Hi. This crossfold blade is guided in a sleeve 23 and a slot 24 formed in the frame of the machine. This blade, is L-shaped and its upwardly extending arm is provided with a crossbar 25, the purpose of which will be described presently.

The drive for the device comprises a motor 26, the shaft 28 of which extends through the machine frame and is provided with pulleys 29 and- 30 and a gear 3|, the shaft 28 being the same shaft which carries the cross-fold roller IS.

The gear 3| meshes with a companion gear 32 carried on the shaft 2'! whereby the shafts and consequently the rollers I1 and I8 are rotated. '45

A belt 33 passing over pulley 29 passes about idlers 34 and 35, about pulley 36 on the shaft 1 of the parallel-fold roll 9, thence around a pulley on the shaft 8 of the other parallel-fold roll l0, thence to idler 31 and back over the pulley 29, 50 whereby the parallel-fold rolls 9 and I9 are rotated.

Another belt 38 passes around pulley 30 and over. a pulley 39 free on the shaft 40. This shaft also carries an actuating arm 4| provided at its free end with a roller 42 adapted to engage the cross bar 25 carried by the cross-fold blade 22 for intermittent operation of the same.

A pulley 43 on the shaft 45 and similar to the pulley 39 is also provided on the other side of the cross-fold blade 22 as will be seen from Fig. 9, and is driven by a belt 44 which passes over a pulley 46 carried on the shaft 21, which in turn carries the gear 32 in mesh with gear 3| as above explained. The shaft 45 which carries the pulley 43 is provided with an actuating arm 41 which is equipped with a roller 50 similar to and for the same purpose as the actuating arm 4| and roller 42.

On the end of the actuating arm 4] opposite to the end carrying the roller 42 there is provided a pawl 5| mounted on a stud 52 carried by V the arm. This stud is also provided with a lever 53. The pawl 5| and lever 53 are both fixed to the stud 52. One end of the lever 53 is provided with a spring 54 and the other end is provided with a ,pin 55. This pin is adapted to rest upon the top of an armature 56 of an electromagnet 51 when the magnet is deenergized so as to hold the pawl out of engagement with a. ratchet 58 which is fixed to the shaft 4|]. When the magnet 57 is energized, as will be hereinafter explained. its armature is drawn toward the magnet thereby releasing the lever 53 so that the same will pivot under the action of the spring 54 to cause the pawl 5| to engage the ratchet .58 whereby the actuating arm 4| will be rotated with the shaft 40.

The -actuating arm 4'! is provided with a similar arrangement as the actuating arm 4| as will be noted from Fig. 9.

The actuating arm and the opening mechanism just described are located to the rear of the wall 59 while the mechanism which is now about to be described, namely the stacking mechanism, is locatedinfront of this wall.

The stacking mechanism comprises a selector arm .60 which is mounted on the arm I and may be swung from one side to the other by the operator through means of a handle 6|. The rear of this selector arm is provided with a contact 62 adapted when in one position to engage contact 63 of the electromagnet 51 and when swung to the other position to engage a contact 64 for closing .a circuit to the opposite electromagnet 55 for the arm 41. The main switch 66 in the circuit for these electromagnets is operated by the laundered piece as the same rides along the rods -2 l into engagement with a switch arm 61, one end of which is provided with a'contact 68 adapted toengage the fixed contact of the switch 66.

After the piece of laundered material 69 has closed the switch 66 it is raised by the cross-fold blade 22 into engagement with the cross-fold rolls l1 and 3.

In line with these rolls is the stacking mechanism. This mechanism comprises a stacking arm 10 keyed to the shaft 40. The free end of this stacking arm is provided with a cam follower adapted to ride on cam 12. The arm carrying the cam follower "II is keyed to a stud mounted in the free end of the arm 70, to which stud there is also keyed a gripper 13 for gripping a folded towel. The gripper is opened by the cam follower H as the same rides upon the cam 12 and closed by a torsion spring on the stud carrying the gripper when the cam follower leaves the cam. The free end of the arm 10 is also provided with a spring plate -14 upon which the towel rests and by which the towel is carried around and thrown upon the stack of pieces shown at 15.

The opposite side of the apparatus is provided with a corresponding stacking arm and stacking mechanism such as just described. As will be noted the operator can select the right hand or left hand stack for the pieces as desired by merely throwing the selector 50 from one side to the other. This provision is made so that the operator can stack in one pile all of the torn or soiled pieces while directing to the other stack all of the good pieces.

From the foregoing the operation of the device will be readily understood. However, a brief description -of the method of selecting the pieces of the desired fold is as follows.

If a single parallel-fold is desired the operator will pick up the piece at the point marked P in Fig. 1, slide it up on the fingers l5 and engage the same under the clips I6; he will then raise the fingers I5 until the piece to be folded is pinched between the parallel-fold rolls 9 and H], which carry the piece over the switch arm 61 closing the circuitto one of the electromagnets 51, 65. The piece is then picked up by the crossfold blade 22 and brought into engagement with the cross-fold rolls l1 and |8,and assuming that the device is set to select the right hand pile the gripping mechanism will grip the edge of the towel and carry the same on the spring plate 14 to and upon the stack at the right hand side, at which time the cam follower will leave the cam and release the gripper from the towel.

Should the operator discover a torn piece he will merely throw the selector 60 to the other side so that the piece will be directed to the left hands-tack as will be readily understood from theforegoing. Should two parallel-folds be requiredtheoperator will pick up the piece at the point marked P and follow the same procedure as before. Should a triple parallel-fold be desired the operator will pick up the piece at the point marked P" of Fig. '1 and proceed as above described. I

It will be noted that I have provided a folding device wherein the laundered pieces can be fed to the device at any speed depending upon the skill of the operator and wherein a single parallel folding device is provided capable of making single or double parallel folds in the laundered pieces.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts above described within the spirit and scope of my invention. I

1. A-device of the class described, comprising in combination parallel-fold rolls, cross-fold rolls at right angles to said parallel-fold rolls,a crossfold blade for conveying an ironed piece to the cross-fold rolls after passing through the parallel-fold rolls, and-electrically operated means for intermittently operating said cross-fold blade, the operation of said means being initiated by the parallel-folded ironed piece. 7

2. A device of the class described, comprising in combination parallel-fold rolls, cross-fold rolls at right angles to said parallel-fold rolls, a crossfold blade for conveying an ironed .piece to the cross-fold rolls after passing through the parallel-fold rolls, electrically operated means for intermittently operating said cross-fold blade, the operation of said means being initiated by the parallel-folded ironed piece, and means for stacking the ironed pieces after passing through the cross fold rolls.

3. A device of the class described, comprising in combination manually operated feeding means, parallel-fold rolls, cross-fold rolls at right angles to said parallel-fold rolls, a cross-fold blade for conveying an ironed piece to the cross-fold rolls after passing through the parallel-fold rolls, an electric switch, means controlled by said switch for intermittently operating said cross-fold blade, the closing of said switch being initiated by the parallel-folded ironed piece, and stacking means at both sides of the device and means for selecting the stacking means for a particular ironed piece.

4. A device of the class described, comprising in combination parallel-fold rolls, cross-fold rolls, manually operated feeding means for feeding ironed pieces to the parallel-fold rolls, adjustable members carried by said manually operated feeding means for gripping the piece, and means for conveying the parallel-folded pieces to the crossfold rolls.

5. A device of the class described, comprising in combination a support, parallel-fold rolls, cross-fold rolls, an arm secured at one end to said support and extending forward of the device, a finger bar rotatably mounted in the free end of said arm, fingers carried by said bar, and adjustable clips carried by said fingers for receiving the piece to be folded.

6. A device of the class described, comprising folding means, stacking mechanism at each side of the device for stacking ironed pieces after passing through the folding means, said stacking mechanism comprising an intermittently rotating arm, a gripper carried by said arm, said gripper being moved to gripping position by means of a spring and released by means of a cam follower riding on a cam, a spring plate carried by said arm supporting the ironed piece engaged by the gripper until released.

'7. A device for folding laundered and ironed pieces comprising manually operated fingers, clips carried by each of said fingers for holding the piece thereon, means for parallel-folding pieces and means for cross-folding the parallelfolded pieces.

8. A device for folding laundered and ironed pieces comprising manually operated fingers, clips carried by each of said fingers for holding the piece thereon, means for parallel-folding pieces and means for cross-folding the parallel-folded pieces and a plurality of selectively controlled stacking devices for stacking the folded pieces.

WALDEMAR F. MAYER. 

